v Sheffield Wednesday (h) - 3/2/26 - 19:45 k/o

[StHelensRover]

I think we're going to win but it's going to be a tight game. The one and a half games between the teams so far this season have produced one goal and very little quality. If anything, they've strengthened more than we have in January!

Expect the players to have a bounce though and get it over the line

[Miller11]

Unless he’s had a drastic change of heart, Johnson would run a mile from the job on a full time basis. Apparently he takes quite a lot of persuading to do it for the one game. Happy coaching, doesn’t want to be a manager.

[Tyrone Shoelaces]

One thing I learnt when I was playing is there are no easy games until you’ve made them easy. Going out expecting any team to just fall over is how you lose “ easy “ games.

I remember as a schoolboy  playing in a 7 a side comp played on a full sized pitch. 15 minutes each way. We had 4 town team players in our 7. We cruised to the final. Our opponents in the final had ballsed up the fixture list and their first team, with their town team players, was playing away in another game ! So we were playing their reserves !  We thought we only had to turn up to win the trophy.

Our keeper had a nightmare, their reserve keeper had the game of his life. We were all trying to win the game on our own as individuals and we didn’t play as team, and we lost 2-1 ! 

So I learnt that lesson the hard way at a young age. Go out with the wrong attitude and you will nearly always come unstuck.
 

Edited 2 hours ago by Tyrone Shoelaces

[arbitro]

This probably sounds daft to some but our biggest enemy tonight might be complacency against a struggling Wednesday who have been further depleted by injury. The game over there in December was an example of what I mean as we looked like turning up would be enough, particularly after a really good result at Middlesbrough a few days before.

In pretty much every home game this season we have started really slowly with very little intensity and generally let the opposition grow into the game at their own pace, a bit like playing with the handbrake on. I get playing like that away but for me it was a real failing by Ismael and directly contributed to our abysmal home record. The exception was Millwall when a quick start and early goal gave us a foothold in the game and something to work with.

Damien Johnson needs to be bold with both selection and tactics and get at them from the kick off. An early goal will settle everyone down.

[Comfortably numb]

Portsmouth v Ipswich tonight postponed - waterlogged pitch ! 😄

[norwichblue]

8 minutes ago, Comfortably numb said:

Portsmouth v Ipswich tonight postponed - waterlogged pitch ! 😄

Cowboys

[47er]

2 hours ago, RoversTilliDie said:

I wouldn't under estimate Sheff Wed, who have give one or two top teams a scare.

They literally have nothing to lose.

[jim mk2]

Rovers were lucky to escape with a draw at Wednesday - how Bannnon missed that chance only he knows. I'm not optimistic we will win tonight. Big test for Damien Johnson   

[Danny O.Brien]

This feels like the Derby game last season, everyone was convinced we would smash them and we ended up losing 3-0. This is the perfect first fixture for DJ and the team to show what they can do with the shackles of Ismael off. Express and play the way we know they can, especially cantwell. Can't see anything other than a rovers win but what do I know.